<p>I am currently a Sophomore in College at university of Illinois, and I got a reward letter freshman year, and in there I had the chance to do Federal Work Study program, I chose to not accept because I didnt want a job freshman year. I decided now to get a job second semester of sophomore year due to my decline in financial troubles. I just turned in my Fasa and went to my Financial Aid Office and asked how I can apply to Federal Work Study Program. They said I had a low enough EFC to qualify but since I declined it my freshman year I wont even be considered for it. Can they do this to me? Please I really need some answers and were to turn.</p>
<p>Do they mean that when you filled out your FAFSA last year you did not request to be considered? If they didn’t award you ws funds for this year, it’s unlikely they have any left at this point…even if you could find a job!</p>
<p>Btw, yes, work-study is campus based aid…so they can award it according to their own policies. Would be nice if they’d tell freshmen that declining would have a long-term impact, but perhaps that’s not what they meant?</p>
<p>It’s probably a first come first serve type thing (it is at S1’s college) and he turned down W/S his freshman year (which was only $250 for the year so he got a local job). Sophomore year he didn’t receive it but wanted it and he had to go on a wait list - so yes for those other readers of this thread, do not turn down work/study…if you don’t find a job nothing ventured/nothing lost except perhaps the ability to receive it in following years.</p>
<p>As far as this year is concerned, Federal work study has very limited funding. A school gets $xxx for a year and once they have awarded those $$$ they have no more to award. There is not usually enough WS funding to award it to all students that are eligible. So a student asking for it mid year is very unlikely to get it as the school does not have any more to award.</p>
<p>As far as them not offering it to you for your junior year, that does seem unfair. I know my daughter turned 1/2 of her WS down her freshman year and was still offered it the following year. We did ask if turning it down would cause problems in the future and they said no, They actually preferred she turn it down if she was not going to use it, so they could re offer it to another student. However each school can set their own criteria for awarding campus based aid (WS, SEOG, Perkins). Have you asked if you can be considered for it for next year?</p>
<p>Yes, I went to the financial aid office today, and they said I wasn’t even considered for the 2011 and 2012 school year because I declined it freshman year, please can they do this to me? What steps can I take?</p>
<p>There isn’t anything you can do. WS funds are very limited. If the funds are awarded they have no more to award. All you can do is ask to be considered for it if funds become available. But the FA office has the last say on how they award campus based funds. (my daughter did not get it this year even though she is eligible as the money was all gone by the time they got to her FAFSA).</p>
<p>I know you want a work study job. BUT can’t you also look for a job that is NOT funded by work study? Our D’s school had on campus jobs that were NOT funded by work study funds. Our son worked off campus for 3 1/2 years (he didn’t work the first semester of his freshman year).</p>
<p>…also what if the work study was school based (ie. not federal)? D didn’t use it since she had to get used to school. This quarter, she has a internship, not sure if that counts for work study. Wonder if she will loose work study year 2 since she got the internship the remaining year?</p>
<p>No, she will not lose her work study. Even if she is not awarded work study in her FA package (which would be unlikely) she would just check jobnet to see what jobs are available both on and off campus.</p>
<p>Colleges vary as to how available jobs are and how much money they can pay students. At MOST state schools, they have far more students than they have WS jobs available. Note to new students–apply RIGHT away, within 24 hours of arriving on campus. At Ivy League and other schools which tend to have more self-pay students (hmmm, parent-pay!) there are often more jobs than students interested, so even non FA students can get jobs.</p>
<p>On this year’s FAFSA, everyone, answer YES to the work-study question, to keep your options open.</p>
<p>I can understand many students would want to avoid work study their first semester because they are afraid of getting overwhelmed with adjusting to college work levels.</p>
<p>Considering the comments made above, maybe the answer is to accept work study but at fewer hours than offered, to keep your foot in the door for future years. </p>
<p>In a perfect world, a student would get a work study job at a quiet departmental library where there is little to do, so they can spend the time studying.</p>
<p>My D accepted her work-study award for freshman year but did not actually want to find a job right away due to her courseload. The FA office removed her unused work study funds during spring semester, probably so it could be awarded to someone else. It did not affect her award for sophomore year and they told her that releasing unused w/s would not be held against her…but she found a w/s job and will probably use close to her full award since it was only for $700/semester.</p>